Mount Semeru Erupts on Thursday Night, Alert Level Remains at Waspada

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted again on Thursday (September 5, 2024) at 7:34 PM WIB. In the last week, Mount Semeru has erupted 21 times.

According to eruption information from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) via the MAGMA Indonesia application, the observed ash column height reached 400 meters above the peak (4,076 meters above sea level).

The ash column was observed to be gray with thick intensity towards the southwest. The eruption was recorded on a seismograph with a maximum amplitude of 22 millimeters and a duration of 118 seconds.

According to the MAGMA Indonesia volcano activity report, Mount Semeru's activity level is at Level II (Alert). Seismic observations on September 5, 2024, from 00:00 to 23:59 WIB showed 113 eruption quakes with amplitudes of 10-23 millimeters and durations of 59-181 seconds.

Furthermore, there were 10 rockfall quakes with amplitudes of 2-14 mm and durations of 50-124 seconds, and 27 emission quakes with amplitudes of 2-8 millimeters and durations of 37-68 seconds.

PVMBG advises against any activity in the southeast sector along Besuk Kobokan, up to 8 kilometers from the peak (eruption center). Outside this distance, the public should not engage in activities within 500 meters of the riverbank (river buffer zone) along Besuk Kobokan due to the potential for pyroclastic flow and lava flows extending up to 13 kilometers from the peak.

During 2024, MAGMA Indonesia has recorded 3,488 volcanic eruptions/eruptions throughout Indonesia. Mount Ibu in North Maluku had the most eruptions (1,384 eruptions), while Mount Semeru erupted 1,158 times.